Dispenser and refrigerator having the same

ABSTRACT

A dispenser and a refrigerator with the same are provided, the dispenser comprising a dispenser housing with an accommodating space therein, and a water supply unit disposed in the accommodating space, and implemented to adjust at least one of height and direction thereof, whereby the position of water outlet can be varied so as to facilitate a water reception.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a dispenser and a refrigerator having the same, and particularly, to a dispenser capable of easily catching water and a refrigerator having the same.

BACKGROUND ART

In general, a refrigerator is an apparatus for storing foods or the like in a cooling chamber configured therein under a lower temperature. Such refrigerator includes a refrigerator main body having a cooling chamber therein, a door for opening/closing the cooling chamber, and a refrigerating cycle for supplying cold air to the cooling chamber.

The refrigerating cycle is typically implemented as a vapor compression refrigerating cycle including a compressor for compressing a refrigerant, a condenser for condensing the compressed refrigerant, an expander for expanding the condensed refrigerant, and an evaporator for adsorbing and evaporating peripheral latent heat.

In addition, the refrigerator may be provided with a dispenser for supplying purified water to a user.

When a user puts a cup on the dispenser and operates a manipulation lever, water supplied via a water supply tube is dropped in the cup through a nozzle formed in the dispenser. Accordingly, the user can get water from the dispenser.

However, in the related art refrigerator, since the nozzle is fixed to a housing of the dispenser, it may be impossible or difficult to adjust a direction to supply water via the nozzle.

Furthermore, it is difficult to catch a relatively much amount of water in a container greater than an inner space of the dispenser housing, which causes a user's inconvenience.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION Technical Problem

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a dispenser capable of varying a location of a water outlet, and a refrigerator having the same.

Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a dispenser capable of reducing a size restriction for a container for catching water, and a refrigerator having the same.

Technical Solution

To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, there is provided a dispenser comprising: a dispenser housing having an accommodating space therein; and a water supply unit disposed in the accommodating space and capable of adjusting at least one of height and direction thereof.

The water supply unit may comprise a flexible tube connected to a water supply tube, and a nozzle coupled to the flexible tube.

The flexible tube may be disposed inside the housing.

The flexible tube may have a length long enough to be extended.

A nozzle coupling portion to which the nozzle is separably coupled may be formed at the dispenser housing.

A protrusion may be protruded from one of contact surfaces between the nozzle coupling portion and the nozzle, and a protrusion receiving portion for receiving the protrusion may be formed at the other contact surface.

The dispenser may further comprise a winding unit on which the flexible tube is wound.

The winding unit may comprise a sheave having a circumference on which the flexible tube is wound, and supporting bars for supporting the sheave.

The winding unit may further comprise an elastic member for applying an elastic force to the sheave so as to be restored to an original position thereof.

In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a refrigerator having a dispenser comprising: a refrigerator main body having a cooling chamber therein; a door configured to open/close the cooling chamber; and the dispenser disposed at the door.

In still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a refrigerator having a dispenser comprising: a refrigerator main body having a cooling chamber therein; a door configured to open/close the cooling chamber; and a dispenser disposed at the door, wherein the dispenser comprises a dispenser housing having an accommodating space therein, a flexible tube received inside the dispenser housing, and a nozzle connected to an end portion of the flexible tube.

The nozzle may be rotatable with respect to the dispenser housing.

The flexible tube may have a length long enough to be extended from the dispenser housing.

A nozzle coupling portion to which the nozzle is separably coupled may be formed at the dispenser housing.

A protrusion may be protruded from one of contact surfaces between the nozzle coupling portion and the nozzle, and a protrusion receiving portion for receiving the protrusion may be formed at the other contact surface.

The dispenser may further comprise a winding unit on which the flexible tube is wound.

The winding unit may comprise a sheave having a circumference on which the flexible tube is wound, and supporting bars for supporting the sheave.

The winding unit may further comprise an elastic member for applying an elastic force to the sheave so as to be restored to an original position thereof.

The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS

As described above, the present invention facilitates to receive water by allowing a position of a nozzle to be varied.

The present invention can also adjust a water outlet direction by rotating the nozzle with respect to a dispenser housing, which makes it convenient to receive water outside an accommodating space of the dispenser housing.

The present invention also allows extension and retraction of the nozzle with respect to the dispenser housing, such that water of the dispenser can easily be supplied at a position spaced apart from the dispenser without any additional operation such as separately connecting a tube.

The present invention implements protrusion and protrusion receiving portion capable of being engaged with each other, formed at a portion coupled to the nozzle of the dispenser housing, thereby allowing the coupled state between the nozzle and the dispenser to be stably maintained.

Also, the present invention is provided with a winding unit on which a flexible tube is wound, such that the flexible tube can be rolled or unrolled, without being entangled, in cooperation with the movement of the nozzle. In particular, an elastic member for applying an elastic force to the winding unit to restore it to its original position is further provided, and accordingly, the flexible tube is automatically retracted and aligned inside the dispenser in cooperation with the nozzle being restored to its original position. Therefore, no operation for aligning the flexible tube is required, resulting in improvement of convenience of use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a refrigerator with a dispenser in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinally cross-sectional view of a dispenser region of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view showing an extended state of a nozzle of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinally cross-sectional view showing a dispenser region of a refrigerator with a dispenser in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a view showing an extended state of a flexible tube of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a longitudinally cross-sectional view showing a dispenser region of a refrigerator with a dispenser in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a view showing a rotated state of a nozzle of FIG. 6.

MODE FOR THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the present disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Hereinafter, a refrigerator having a dispenser according to the present invention will be explained.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a refrigerant having a dispenser according to the present invention may include a refrigerator main body 110 having a cooling chamber therein, doors 125 and 135 for opening/closing the cooling chamber, and a dispenser 150 disposed at the door 125. Here, the cooling chamber totally indicates a refrigerating chamber and a freezing chamber, and the refrigerator main body 110 may be formed to only have one of the freezing chamber and the refrigerating chamber. Also, the dispenser 150 may be configured at the refrigerating chamber door. This embodiment of the present invention is implemented such that the refrigerator main body 110 has a freezing chamber 120 and a refrigerating chamber 130 disposed respectively at right and left sides thereof. However, the freezing chamber 120 and the refrigerating chamber 130 may be disposed up and down.

The freezing chamber 120 and the refrigerating chamber 130 are formed in the refrigerator main body 110. A freezing chamber door 125 and a refrigerating chamber door 135 are disposed at front surfaces of the freezing chamber 120 and the refrigerating chamber 130, respectively, to open/close the corresponding chambers 120 and 130. A home bar 137 for keeping foods or the like or taking such food out there without opening the refrigerating chamber door 135 may be disposed at the refrigerating chamber door 135.

In the meantime, the dispenser 150 for dispensing water without opening the freezing chamber door 125 may be disposed at the freezing chamber door 125. The dispenser 150 may include a dispenser housing 151 having an accommodating space 152 therein, and a water supply unit 180 disposed inside the accommodating space 152 and implemented to adjust one of its height and direction. Here, the dispenser housing 151 may further be provided with an ice supply unit (not shown) for supplying ices.

A penetrated portion 127 is formed through a front surface of the freezing chamber door 125 in a thickness direction, and thus the dispenser housing 151 is inserted in the penetrated portion 127 from a front side of the freezing chamber door 125.

The dispenser housing 151 has the accommodating space 152 for accommodating a small container C1, such as a cup. A manipulation lever 161 operated by being touched or pressed such that water can be dispensed may be disposed in the accommodating space 152. An input unit 155 for inputting a manipulating signal and a display 156 for outputting certain visual information may be disposed at the front surface of the dispenser housing 151. Here, the input unit 155 may be implemented as a press button, or be implemented to input a signal in a touching manner. Here, the water supply may also be executed by the manipulation of the input unit 155.

The manipulation lever 161 may be installed at a rear wall of the dispenser housing 151. Here, the manipulation lever 161 may include an operation portion 162 to which an external force is applied, a connection portion 164 connected to the operation portion 162, and an axis 166 for rotatably supporting the connection portion 164. Here, the operation portion 162 or the connection portion 164 may be connected to a switch or sensor (not shown) for generating a signal and the switch or sensor is connected to a controller (not shown), such that water can be dispensed upon a signal input.

The water supply unit 180 may be formed at an upper portion of the accommodating space 152.

The water supply unit 180 may include a water supply tube 181 through which water is supplied, a flexible tube 185 having one end connected to the water supply tube 181, and a nozzle 191 connected to another end of the flexible tube 185. A filter (not shown) may be disposed in the water supply tube 181. Also, the water supply tube 181 may pass through the refrigerating chamber 130 so as to supply cold water.

Here, the flexible tube 185 may be formed of a flexible material, and also be formed of a material or in a structure being flexibly transformed. In this embodiment, the flexible tube 181 is implemented in a shape of wrinkled pipe, namely, having a structure of being flexibly transformed.

The nozzle 191 may be formed to have an extended size as compared to the flexible tube 185. A nozzle coupling portion 175 to which the nozzle 191 is separably coupled may be formed on a ceiling of the dispenser housing 151.

The nozzle coupling portion 175 may be formed to correspond to the shape of the nozzle 191 such that one region of the nozzle 191 can be accommodated therein. An engaging portion 195 to which the nozzle 191 is fixed may be formed at a contact region between the nozzle 191 and the nozzle coupling portion 175. The engaging portion 195 may include a protrusion 196 protruded from one of mutual contact surfaces between the nozzle 191 and the nozzle coupling portion 175 to another surface thereof, and a protrusion receiving portion 197 formed in the another surface to receive the protrusion 196 therein. Here, at least one of the protrusion 196 and the protrusion receiving portion 197 may be formed to be elastically transformed upon the coupling therebetween. This embodiment is implemented such that the protrusion 196 is protruded from an outer surface of the nozzle 191 and the protrusion receiving portion 197 is recessed in the nozzle coupling portion 175.

On the other hand, a flexible tube receiving portion 171 for receiving the flexible tube 185 may be formed at an upper area of the dispenser housing 151. The flexible tube 185 may be implemented such that the nozzle 191 is separated from the nozzle coupling portion 175 to have a length long enough to be movable within a certain range. That is, the flexible tube 185 has a length longer than a distance between the water supply tube 181 and the nozzle coupling portion 175. Accordingly, when the nozzle 191 is spaced apart from the nozzle coupling portion 175 by being separated therefrom, the flexible tube 185 is extended as long as a distance that the nozzle 191 is spaced apart from the nozzle coupling portion 175. When the nozzle 191 is coupled to the nozzle coupling portion 175, the flexible tube 185 is received within the flexible tube receiving portion 171 via the nozzle coupling portion 175.

With such configuration, when desiring to catch water in a relatively small container C1, such as a cup, the container C1 is put in the accommodating space 152 of the dispenser housing 151 and the manipulation lever 161 is then manipulated, so as to catch water. On the other hand, when desiring to catch water in a container C2 relatively greater than the accommodating space 152, the nozzle 191 is pulled downwardly to thusly be separated from the nozzle coupling portion 175, and then the separated nozzle 191 is appropriately located above the container C2. Here, the flexible tube 185 is extended as long as a distance that the nozzle 191 is moved from the nozzle coupling portion 175. Afterwards, upon manipulating the manipulation lever 161 or the input unit 155, water can be dispensed via the nozzle 191.

Hereinafter, a refrigerator having a dispenser according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

The same reference numerals will be equally used for the same and like portions to the aforementioned and illustrated configuration, and the description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a refrigerator with a dispenser according to the present invention may include a refrigerator main body 110 having a cooling chamber therein, a door 125 for opening/closing the cooling chamber, and a dispenser 150 disposed at the door 125.

The dispenser 150 may include a dispenser housing 151 having an accommodating space 152 therein, and a water supply unit 180 disposed inside the accommodating space 152 and implemented to adjust one of its height and direction.

The water supply unit 180 may include a water supply tube 181 through which water is supplied, a flexible tube 185 having one end connected to the water supply tube 181, and a nozzle 191 connected to another end of the flexible tube 185.

A manipulation lever 161 operated for allowing water to be dispensed is disposed inside the dispenser housing 151. The nozzle 191 is coupled to a ceiling of the accommodating space 152 of the dispenser housing 151, and a flexible tube receiving portion 171 for receiving the flexible tube 185 therein is formed at an upper area of the dispenser housing 151.

A water supply tube 181 for supplying water is disposed in the flexible tube receiving portion 171. The water supply tube 181 is connected to one end of the flexible tube 185 formed to have a length longer than a distance between the water supply tube 181 and the nozzle coupling portion 175.

On the other hand, a winding unit 210 on which the flexible tube 185 is wound is disposed in the flexible tube receiving portion 171, so as to facilitate an extension and retraction of the flexible tube 185 with such long length.

The winding unit 210 may include a sheave 211 having a circumferential surface on which the flexible tube 185 is wound, and supporting bars 213 for rotatably supporting the sheave 211. The sheave 211 may be formed to have a length as long as being wound by the flexible tube 185 plural times. Both ends of the sheave 211 are rotatably supported by the supporting bars 213. The flexible tube 185 is contacted and fixed at the middle of the sheave 211 and wound thereon plural times. That is, the flexible tube 185 is configured such that, initially, part of the water supply tube side section 186 a is not wound on the sheave 211 and part of the nozzle side section 186 b is wound on the circumference of the sheave 211. Accordingly, upon the separation or movement of the nozzle 191, the section 186 b wound on the sheave 211 is unrolled to be extended and simultaneously the section 186 a not wound on the sheave 211 is then wound on the circumference of the sheave 211. On the other hand, upon coupling the nozzle 191 to the nozzle coupling portion 175, the nozzle side section 186 b is wound on the circumference of the sheave 211, and the water supply tube side section 186 a wound on the sheave 211 is then unrolled.

The winding unit 210 may further include an elastic member 215 having an elastic force applied to rotate the sheave 211 to its original position, which makes it easy to retract the flexible tube 185 extended to the exterior due to the movement of the nozzle 191.

The elastic member 215 may be configured as a spring, in more detail, as a coil spring or torsion spring. One end of the elastic member 215 may be fixed to the sheave 211 and the other end thereof may be fixed to the supporting bar 213. As a result, the elastic member 215 accumulates an elastic force by a rotational force of the sheave 211 rotated upon extending the flexible tube 185. Also, upon retracting the flexible tube 185, the sheave 211 is rotated by the accumulated elastic force, so as to facilitate the rolling of the flexible tube 185.

With such configuration, when desiring to catch water in a relatively small container C1, such as a cup, the container C1 is put in the accommodating space 152 of the dispenser housing 151, and the manipulation lever 161 is then manipulated, thus to receive water in the container C1. On the other hand, when desiring to catch water in a container C2 greater than the accommodating space 152, the nozzle 191 is pulled downwardly to be separated from the nozzle coupling portion 175. When the separated nozzle 191 is further pulled, the flexible tube 185 wound on the circumference of the sheave 211 is unrolled to be extended. Here, the sheave 211 is rotated and the elastic member 215 accumulates an elastic force by the rotational force of the sheave 211.

Then, after the nozzle 191 is appropriately located above the container C2, when the manipulation lever 161 or the input unit 155 is operated, water is dispensed via the nozzle 191.

Upon the completion of water reception, the nozzle 191 is slowly moved to the nozzle coupling portion 175 to thereafter be coupled back to the nozzle coupling portion 175. Here, the sheave 211 is rotated opposite to being extended due to the elastic force of the elastic member 215, and accordingly, the thusly received flexible tube 185 is easily wound on the circumference of the sheave 211.

Hereinafter, a refrigerator with a dispenser according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a refrigerator with a dispenser according to the present invention may include a refrigerator main body 110 having a cooling chamber therein, a door 125 for opening/closing the cooling chamber, and a dispenser 150 disposed at the door 125.

The dispenser 150 may include a dispenser housing 151 having an accommodating space 152 therein, and a water supply unit 220 disposed inside the accommodating space 152 and implemented to adjust one of its height and direction.

The water supply unit 220 may include a water supply tube 181 through which water is supplied, a flexible tube 221 having one end connected to the water supply tube 181, and a nozzle 191 connected to another end of the flexible tube 221.

A manipulation lever 161 operated for allowing water to be dispensed is disposed inside the dispenser housing 151. The nozzle 191 is coupled to a ceiling of the accommodating space 152 of the dispenser housing 151, and a flexible tube receiving portion 171 for receiving the flexible tube 185 therein is formed at an upper area of the dispenser housing 151.

A water supply tube 181 for supplying water is disposed in the flexible tube receiving portion 171. One end of the flexible tube 221 is connected to the water supply tube 181, and the nozzle 191 is disposed at the other end of the flexible tube 221. Here, the flexible tube 221 can be transformed, and preferably, after being transformed, such transformed shape is maintained, which allows an adjustment a water outlet direction via the nozzle 191.

The nozzle 191 is disposed to be exposed at a ceiling of the accommodating space 152 of the dispenser housing 151. An insertion hole in which the flexible tube 221 is inserted is formed through the ceiling of the dispenser housing 151.

With such configuration, when desiring to receive water in a relatively small container C1, such as a cup, the container C1 is put in the accommodating space 152 of the dispenser housing 151, and the manipulation lever 161 is then manipulated, so as to receive water in the container C1. On the other hand, desiring to receive water in a container C2 greater than the accommodating space 152, the nozzle 191 is rotated with respect to the dispensing housing 151 such that a water outlet direction of the nozzle 191 faces the container C2. Here, the nozzle 191 is continuously located at a position rotated due to the transformation of the flexible tube 221, thereby facilitating the water reception. Afterwards, upon manipulating the manipulation lever 161 or the input unit 155, water is dispensed via the nozzle 191.

The aforementioned embodiments have illustrated a refrigerator with a dispenser, however, the dispenser can be configured to be disposed at a water purifier.

The foregoing embodiments and advantages are merely exemplary and are not to be construed as limiting the present disclosure. The present teachings can be readily applied to other types of apparatuses. This description is intended to be illustrative, and not to limit the scope of the claims. Many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The features, structures, methods, and other characteristics of the exemplary embodiments described herein may be combined in various ways to obtain additional and/or alternative exemplary embodiments.

As the present features may be embodied in several forms without departing from the characteristics thereof, it should also be understood that the above-described embodiments are not limited by any of the details of the foregoing description, unless otherwise specified, but rather should be construed broadly within its scope as defined in the appended claims, and therefore all changes and modifications that fall within the metes and bounds of the claims, or equivalents of such metes and bounds are therefore intended to be embraced by the appended claims. 

1. A dispenser comprising: a dispenser housing having an accommodating space therein; and a water supply unit disposed in the accommodating space and capable of adjusting at least one of height and direction thereof.
 2. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the water supply unit comprises a flexible tube connected to a water supply tube, and a nozzle coupled to the flexible tube.
 3. The dispenser of claim 2, wherein the flexible tube is disposed inside the housing.
 4. The dispenser of claim 2, wherein the flexible tube has a length long enough to be extended.
 5. The dispenser of claim 4, wherein a nozzle coupling portion to which the nozzle is separably coupled is formed at the housing.
 6. The dispenser of claim 5, wherein a protrusion is protruded from one of contact surfaces between the nozzle coupling portion and the nozzle, and a protrusion receiving portion for receiving the protrusion is formed at the other contact surface.
 7. The dispenser of claim 4, further comprising a winding unit on which the flexible tube is wound.
 8. The dispenser of claim 7, wherein the winding unit comprises a sheave having a circumference on which the flexible tube is wound, and supporting bars for supporting the sheave.
 9. The dispenser of claim 8, wherein the winding unit further comprises an elastic member for applying an elastic force to the sheave so as to be restored to an original position thereof.
 10. A refrigerator having a dispenser comprising: a refrigerator main body having a cooling chamber therein; a door configured to open/close the cooling chamber; and a dispenser according to claim 1, disposed at the door.
 11. A refrigerator having a dispenser comprising: a refrigerator main body having a cooling chamber therein; a door configured to open/close the cooling chamber; and a dispenser disposed at the door, wherein the dispenser comprises: a housing having an accommodating space therein; a flexible tube received inside the housing; and a nozzle connected to an end portion of the flexible tube.
 12. The refrigerator of claim 11, wherein the nozzle is rotatable with respect to the housing.
 13. The refrigerator of claim 11, wherein the flexible tube has a length long enough to be extended from the housing.
 14. The refrigerator of claim 13, wherein a nozzle coupling portion to which the nozzle is separably coupled is formed at the housing.
 15. The refrigerator of claim 14, wherein a protrusion is protruded from one of contact surfaces between the nozzle coupling portion and the nozzle, and a protrusion receiving portion for receiving the protrusion is formed at the other contact surface.
 16. The refrigerator of claim 13, wherein the dispenser further comprises a winding unit on which the flexible tube is wound.
 17. The refrigerator of claim 16, wherein the winding unit comprises a sheave having a circumference on which the flexible tube is wound, and a supporting bar for supporting sheave.
 18. The refrigerator of claim 17, wherein the winding unit further comprises an elastic member for applying an elastic force to the sheave so as to be restored to an original position thereof. 